Forces During Skull Base Surgery

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This study is designed to measure forces applied using standard surgical instruments at the skull base during resection of skull base lesions. This data will be useful for optimizing an active canula robot for assisting in skull base surgery. We hypothesize that through measurement of forces generated during routine endoscopic skull base surgery we will be able to optimize the canulas of an active canula robot for skull base surgery.

This data will be collected and recorded via a computer interface with our sensorized tool and recorded in standard units for force and torque. We will also look at the variability of forces between patients after collecting this data. The data will be useful in optimizing a robotic system for endonasal surgery as described in the secondary outcome measure.

The force and torque data will allow our team of Engineers to optimize our robotic system to be best suited for removing pituitary tumors transnasally. The robot consists of specially designed flexible arms with end effectors that each need to be able to withstand and produce the necessary forces to complete pituitary tumor excision. This will be measured by optimizing our robot based on the findings in the primary outcome measure and then evaluating the robot for efficiency and effectiveness of mock pituitary tumor removal from skull and cadaver specimens. We will investigate percent tumor removal and speed of tumor removal once the robot is optimized.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Senior)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All adult patients undergoing standard endonasal skull base surgery.

Criteria

Inclusion criteria:

Any male or female patient 18-75 years old undergoing endonasal skull base surgery for a skull base lesion.

Competent in decision making process and able to sign a written informed consent form.